Will I get a job with a PhD in Folklore?
Graduates of our doctoral program teach in a variety of disciplines – Anthropology, English, Folklore, Human Kinetics – as well as in multidisciplinary programs – Creative Technologies, Communication Studies, Film Studies and Humanities. Other graduates have careers in cultural and educational administration.
| "I had tremendous experiences doing my PhD in the Department of Folklore. The training I received prepared me to become a professor, not only in a research capacity but as an educator. It was only after finishing my PhD and entering into academia as a professor that I fully appreciated the engaging learning environment the Department provided. The level of commitment the professors demonstrated has been unparalleled in my past experiences in university settings, and it is now something I aspire to achieve with my own graduate students. As current Director of Graduate Studies in School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa, I borrow from past experiences as a graduate student at MUN to help create a positive and mutually rewarding program." Michael Robidoux Associate Professor & Director of Graduate Studies School of Human Kinetics University of Ottawa |
| "Having graduate degrees in Folklore opened many doors for me, both in the museum world and in the world of research administration. I feel I have two parallel careers, one as a freelance museum curator, and the other as a research administrator, first at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and now at the Research Office at Ryerson University. A graduate degree is a sign of commitment to academia and to excellence in research, and that commitment is recognised by employers. Faculty in the Folklore Department at Memorial pushed me to always do my best, and the discipline itself is so exceptional, in its exploration of the importance of the everyday, that I would not want to change anything in my education path." |
| "Until I came to the Folklore Department at Memorial, I did not know that one could study the intimate traditions of everyday life. The Department opened my eyes to this rarely-acknowledged world, and launched my career as a folklorist. I went on to explore areas of traditional culture across Canada, but the point of reference for all of my work was the strong grounding that I received at Memorial's Folklore Department." Michael Taft Head of the Archive of Folk Culture American Folklife Center The Library of Congress |
| "The training I received as a graduate student in the Department of Folklore is nothing less than the cornerstone of my career. It provided a solid grounding in the intellectual history of the field of folklore, excellent models for research and writing, and exposure to a wide range of human creativity expressed through traditional forms. As well, my time as a graduate student provided exciting and challenging opportunities to conduct field research on Newfoundland’s maritime culture. In the process, I forged strong relationships with Newfoundlanders (many of which have continued to the present), and developed a deep commitment to cultural conservation and inter-cultural understanding that figures in my work every day." David A. Taylor Head of Research & Programs American Folklife Center The Library of Congress |